Aug 24 2009
Kindergarten to High School
Today is Zeke’s first day of Kindergarten and Josiah’s second day of High School. I called my sister last week to tell her that I was as stressed out the night before his school orientation as I was the night before his first day of preschool. Marie thought I was talking about Zeke, but I was talking about Josiah.
On orientation day, I followed Josiah to every class and began to add up the hours of work required for each of his classes. He is taking a full course load in the hopes that by his Senior year, he will take classes that give him college credit. I always took a heavy course load and so did Dale, but I told Josiah he could drop a course the first week if he thought it was too much. He then asked me, “Did you ever drop a class?” To which I replied, “No. I just suffered through.” (“Do as I say, not as I do, child.”)
As we walked from class to class I pointed out individuals who would make good lab partners and those unfriendly individuals best avoided. I informed him who King Bob was and pointed out all the cronies that were attempting to gain King Bob’s favor. The class clown was obvious even to him. He recognized some kids in his class right away, but failed to notice that a girl from his cross country team was in several of his classes. She came up to him at one point and he looked at her puzzled and said, “Mary?” She was wearing her hair down instead of in a pony tail. It was one of those Clark Kent – Superman tricks.
Outside the high school, I attempted to determine in which direction baseball caps are now worn. Some were worn straight on, some backwards, and some crooked. It was not a consistent pattern. I put this question to a friend who reported the following findings from a concert she attended: 7 forward, 1 sideways, 2 backward. Please track the trend in your location and post the results in a comment. As Josiah followed the conversation between my friend and I, he commented that he thought inside out hats were the best. (As faithful to the rally cap as his Mother) My friend gave him a bit of advice, “It’s probably best if you avoid hats all together.”
Since all my Motherly fretting was taken up by Josiah, I had nothing left for Zeke’s start of Kindergarten. This did not concern Zeke in the least. In fact, as we were walking to his Kindergarten orientation together, he informed me, “I wish I could go by myself.” He didn’t need his mother hanging around. He had it all under control. I informed his teacher of his comment when we arrived in the class. She looked at Zeke and said, “Today, all Mommys have to come to class, but on Monday…No Mommys or Daddys allowed.” Zeke looked at his teacher and broke into a big smile.
As a Pre-K teacher, I wish parents would just drop off their kids and run. Zeke is on to something. As a parent I would love to stay with them all day. This year I get to do this with Harlee because she is in my class. She is my best student. Harlee even calls me Mrs. Manry. Yesterday she ask me at 2:30 if so could call me mommy now, of course I told her she could. Christina started highschool this year but it wasn’t hard because she is still at the academy. We have a web site for the school. You can see the horrible picture of me that they posted!! http://www.oasisacacademy.com. Love ya’ll!!!!